AKINDELE JAY
2.9K posts

AKINDELE JAY
@jay_millay
Architect | Entrepreneur | Work hard







Yes, Bruno Fernandes has a good shout but never discount what Gabriel has done for Arsenal. With Gabriel, Arsenal won't be smiling the top of the day & he has done it for the past 3 season by finishing 2nd & clean sheets. Not Bruno with his influence, Man Utd almost got relegated last season & this season, quantity assists to be dragging Top4 with Aston Villa & Chelsea. Pure n0nsense

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO CALCULATING FENCING BLOCKS IN NIGERIA You're about to fence your land, and the first question hits you: "How many blocks do I actually need?" Get it wrong, and you'll either run out of blocks mid-project - causing delays and extra transport costs - or you'll over-buy and waste money on blocks you'll never use. But here's the thing: calculating blocks for fencing isn't complicated. You don't need to be a mathematician or an engineer. You just need to follow a simple step-by-step process that I'm about to show you. Let me walk you through exactly how to do this, using a standard Nigerian plot as an example. THE 8-STEP FORMULA TO CALCULATE FENCING BLOCKS STEP 1: Calculate Your Net Perimeter (After Gate Openings) First, you need to know the total distance around your property — that's your perimeter. But before you use that number in any calculation, you must subtract the width of your gate openings. That portion of the fence line will be occupied by gates, not blocks, so including it in your calculation means paying for blocks you will never lay. A standard full plot in Nigeria is typically 50 feet by 100 feet. The formula for total perimeter is: Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width) So for a full plot: Perimeter = 2 × (100ft + 50ft) = 2 × 150ft = 300 feet Now subtract your gate openings. A typical Nigerian compound has: One vehicle gate: approximately 12 feet wide One pedestrian gate: approximately 4 feet wide Total gate opening: 16 feet Net perimeter = 300ft − 16ft = 284 feet This is the number you will use for all further calculations. If your land has different dimensions or more gate openings, adjust accordingly. For reference: Half plot (50ft × 50ft): 200ft total − 16ft gates = 184ft net 60ft × 120ft plot: 360ft total − 16ft gates = 344ft net 100ft × 100ft plot: 400ft total − 16ft gates = 384ft net STEP 2: Find the Length of a Standard Hollow Block In Nigeria, a regular 9-inch hollow block measures 18 inches long — which is 1.5 feet. However, when laying blocks, you need to account for the mortar joints between them. So instead of using 1.5 feet, we use 1.7 feet per block to include the mortar space. This small adjustment makes your calculation much more accurate. STEP 3: Divide Net Perimeter by Block Length Now divide your net perimeter by the length of one block including mortar: Number of blocks per row = Net perimeter ÷ Block length Using our example: 284ft ÷ 1.7ft = 167.1 blocks Round this up to 168 blocks for one complete row around your fence wall. STEP 4: Determine the Number of Courses (Rows) A "course" is simply one horizontal row of blocks. How high you want your fence determines how many courses you'll need. Before the main visible fence begins, every solid fence starts with a proper foundation — typically 2 courses of blocks laid below or at ground level. This anchors the entire fence to the earth and prevents shifting, tilting, or cracking over time. Here's the complete course breakdown: Foundation (below/at ground level): Course 1: First foundation course (set in concrete/mortar on the footing) Course 2: Second foundation course (completes the buried base) Main Fence (above ground level): 6 courses ≈ 4 feet high (typical for most residential fences) 8 courses ≈ 5.3 feet high 10 courses ≈ 6.6 feet high 12 courses ≈ 8 feet high (for maximum privacy and security) So for a fence that appears 6 courses high above ground, your actual total is 8 courses — 2 foundation courses plus 6 visible courses. Never skip the foundation courses. They are not optional. A fence without a proper block foundation is a fence that will eventually fail. STEP 5: Multiply Blocks Per Row by Total Number of Courses Now multiply the blocks needed for one row by your total number of courses - foundation and main fence combined: Total wall blocks = Blocks per row × Total number of courses 168 blocks × 8 courses = 1,344 blocks This gives you the blocks for the flat wall sections. But your fence isn't just walls: it also has pillars, and those pillars need their own blocks. STEP 6: Calculate Blocks for Pillars This is the step most people completely forget, and it's one of the biggest reasons people run short of blocks on site. In Nigeria, fence pillars are almost always built with blocks. Concrete pillars exist but are rare and typically reserved for heavy-duty or institutional fencing. For standard residential plots, your pillars will be block pillars, and you need to calculate them separately. What is a fence pillar? A pillar is a thickened, reinforced column built at regular intervals along the fence. It serves two purposes: structural support ,keeping the fence upright and stable, and aesthetics, giving the fence a clean, finished look. Pillars are also built at every corner of the fence and on both sides of every gate opening. Standard pillar sizing in Nigeria: A typical block fence pillar is built as a 2-block by 2-block square, meaning each course of a pillar uses 4 blocks arranged in an alternating bond pattern for strength. The pillar runs the full height of the fence - foundation courses included. How many pillars do you need? One pillar at each corner: a standard rectangular plot has 4 corners = 4 corner pillars Pillars at gate openings: each gate has 2 pillars; with one vehicle gate and one pedestrian gate, that's 4 gate pillars Intermediate pillars along the wall: spaced at regular intervals, typically every 10 feet ,for structural support Let's calculate intermediate pillars for our 50ft × 100ft plot using the net perimeter of 284 feet: Total intermediate pillars = Net perimeter ÷ 10ft spacing = 284 ÷ 10 = 28.4, rounded to 28 intermediate pillars Add corner and gate pillars: 4 corner pillars + 4 gate pillars = 8 pillars Total pillars = 28 + 8 = 36 pillars Blocks per pillar: Each pillar course uses 4 blocks, and the pillar runs the full 8 courses: Blocks per pillar = 4 blocks × 8 courses = 32 blocks Total blocks for all pillars: 36 pillars × 32 blocks = 1,152 blocks Adjusting wall blocks for pillar footprint: When you insert pillars into the fence line, they occupy space that would otherwise be filled by wall blocks. Subtract the pillar footprint to avoid double-counting. Each pillar occupies approximately 1.7 feet of the fence line. With 36 pillars: Blocks to subtract = 36 pillars × 8 courses × 1 block per row = 288 blocks Adjusted wall blocks = 1,344 − 288 = 1,056 blocks Combined total (walls + pillars): 1,056 + 1,152 = 2,208 blocks STEP 7: Add Allowance for Breakages, Corners & Waste In real construction, things happen: * Some blocks arrive broken * Some crack during handling * Corners and pillar bonds require cuts and repositioning * Mistakes happen during laying Professional builders always add a 5–10% allowance for these inevitable losses. Using 5%: Allowance = 5% of 2,208 = 0.05 × 2,208 = 111 blocks STEP 8: Add Your Main Number and Allowance Finally, add your calculated blocks to your allowance: Final total = 2,208 + 111 = 2,319 blocks So for a standard 50ft × 100ft plot, accounting for gate openings, 2 foundation courses, a 6-course visible fence, and block pillars at 10-foot intervals, you need approximately 2,319 blocks. QUICK REFERENCE: BLOCKS NEEDED FOR COMMON PLOT SIZES (8 total courses - 2 foundation + 6 visible - with pillars at 10ft intervals, 16ft gate deduction, and 5% allowance) Plot Size Gross Perimeter With Pillars Half plot (50ft × 50ft) 200ft 184ft ~1,528 blocks Full plot (50ft × 100ft) 300ft 284ft ~2,319 blocks 60ft × 120ft 360ft 344ft ~2,756 blocks 100ft × 100ft 400ft 384ft s ~3,022 blocks The gap between the "without pillars" and "with pillars" columns is exactly why so many fence projects run out of blocks. Always calculate pillars separately and never leave them out. PRO TIPS TO SAVE MONEY AND AVOID MISTAKES 1. Measure your land accurately - even a small error in your dimensions compounds across hundreds of blocks. 2. Always deduct gate openings first - measure the actual clear width of each gate opening and subtract from your perimeter before doing anything else. 3. Don't skip the foundation courses - the 2 courses below ground are what give your fence its strength and longevity. 4. Space your pillars correctly - 10 feet is the standard, but on very long fence runs or in areas with unstable soil, reduce spacing to 8 feet for extra stability. 5. Use concrete pillars for heavy gates - for gate pillars that will carry the load and constant swing of large metal gates, consider reinforced concrete pillars instead of block pillars for greater durability. 6. Buy quality blocks - cheap, poorly made blocks break easily and cost you more in the long run. 7. Store blocks properly - stack them on a flat, dry surface away from water to avoid unnecessary breakages before use. It takes just a few minutes to do the math, but it can save you thousands of naira and weeks of project delays. #BSATProperties

How do 18-27 year olds get rich, besides crypto

Do you know how to calculate the number of blocks you need for your building project before you start building? If this post gets 50 comments and 20 reposts, I'll drop a video to explain it





